92 groups urge Canada to expand sanctions on Myanmar oil and gas sector

By Admin 02 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 October 2026, Yangon

A coalition of 92 Myanmar and international civil society and human rights organisations has urged Canada to expand sanctions to cover Myanmar’s entire oil and gas extraction sector supply chain, saying revenues from the industry continue to support the Myanmar military.

In an October 1 letter to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, the organisations called on Canada to extend sanctions beyond the military-controlled Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) to service companies, financial intermediaries, insurers, accreditation providers and engineering contractors.

The groups said MOGE generates substantial revenue for the Myanmar military while serving as an operator, service provider and regulator of the oil and gas sector, overseeing exploration, production and gas transmission and collecting taxes and profits from private partners.

The appeal comes as the Myanmar military seeks a major expansion of gas-field development that the organisations said could potentially be worth C$400 billion. They argued that further sanctions are urgently needed to restrict revenues available to the military.

The groups also linked military revenue to the continuing escalation of airstrikes. According to figures cited in the letter, military airstrikes increased by more than 36 percent in 2025, while the military budget has risen to $5.7 billion.

Canada previously led international efforts to sanction Myanmar’s aviation-fuel sector, which the organisations described as the strongest action taken to restrict the military’s ability to conduct airstrikes against civilians.

The letter also raised concerns over foreign companies continuing to participate in Myanmar’s oil and gas sector. It cited Canadian Foresight Group, which holds an 80 percent operating interest in Block M-15, a 13,480-square-kilometre offshore concession in the Andaman Sea off Tanintharyi Region.

Although registered in Singapore, the company was established and is run by Canadian citizen Songning Shen, its chairman and managing director, while other board members are also Canadian and based in Calgary, according to the letter. The groups said development of the field could generate billions in revenue for the Myanmar military.

The coalition argued that existing sanctions on MOGE have left loopholes allowing companies to remain involved in Myanmar’s gas industry when they are not directly contracted by MOGE. It also highlighted a lack of transparency surrounding insurance, certification, auditing, accreditation and other services supporting the sector.

The organisations called on Canada to sanction the entire oil and gas supply chain, restrict insurance, reinsurance, certification, engineering and financial services linked to the sector, and strengthen transparency and due-diligence requirements for Canadian companies and citizens involved in Myanmar’s oil and gas industry.

They also urged Ottawa to resume regular rounds of sanctions targeting sources of military revenue, arms and equipment, warning that international service providers could otherwise undermine existing measures against the Myanmar military.

The 92 signatories include Myanmar civil society and human rights organisations, diaspora groups and international advocacy organisations, including the Arakan Youth Peace Network, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Equality Myanmar, Karen Peace Support Network, Progressive Voice and MiningWatch Canada.